Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department

05/25/2026

We remember.

04/27/2026

The statewide burning ban remains in effect. Despite some scattered areas in the northern Midlands receiving up to a half-inch or slightly more Saturday, most of the state received no measurable or effectual rainfall.
A widespread precipitation deficit of ~20 inches continues to intensify the ongoing drought, and generally, heavily depleted subsoils require many weeks of consistent, slow-soaking rain to recover. While rising relative humidities and decreasing winds may ultimately prompt the lifting of the burning ban, fire danger will still be elevated for some time because of drought conditions.
Please be advised that outdoor burning, save for grill cooking and small/permanent pit fires, is still prohibited by law at this time. The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.
(Graphic: USGS 48-hour precipitation data, April 26, 2026)

04/24/2026

The burn ban is still in place across South Carolina.
Dry conditions, gusty winds, and low humidity continue to fuel a high wildfire risk statewide. The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban until further notice.
This ban means no outdoor burning in unincorporated areas. That includes yard debris, prescribed burns, campfires, bonfires, and any recreational fires.

04/17/2026

Friendly reminder.

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

04/16/2026

Burning ban back in effect beginning tomorrow morning at 7am.

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

03/31/2026

Burning ban has been lifted.

SC Forestry Commission to lift statewide burning ban

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the statewide burning ban at 7 a.m. Monday, March 30.

The extremely low relative humidities and gusty winds that prompted the March 27 ban have subsided, although elevated drought conditions over much of the state warrant the need to be extremely vigilant when burning outdoors.

While rain chances increase later this week, it is not expected to be enough to improve the drought status significantly. Above-average fire danger and activity is still expected through April, which has historically seen the most damaging and costliest wildfires in South Carolina. Anyone who burns outdoors and allows their fire(s) to escape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

“Just because the burning ban is being lifted, it does not mean the fire danger is gone. Most of the state is still very dry, and the risk of fires igniting easily remains. Anyone who has conducted a burn recently should continue to monitor it closely because of the potential for it to reignite,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “If you choose to burn outdoors, you should be extremely careful and take all necessary precautions. Any fire you start is your responsibility even if it rekindles and spreads days later.”

Citizens who may plan to conduct outdoor burning of residential yard debris or prescribed burns must still notify the Forestry Commission before doing so.

Residential yard debris burning
State law requires citizens who live in unincorporated areas to notify the Forestry Commission before burning outdoors. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that people clean up from their yards. Citizens who do live in city/town limits must still abide by any burning ordinances in their local jurisdictions.
Citizens can make notification online by visiting scfc.gov/notify or by calling the toll-free notification number for the county in which they live, found here: scfc.gov/protection/fire-burning/how-to-notify/.

Prescribed burning
State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission before burning for forestry, wildlife management or agricultural purposes. This includes burning for wildfire hazard reduction, brush control, endangered species management, wildlife habitat improvement, plant disease control, crop residue removal and preparation of land for planting trees or agricultural crops. All burning for forestry, wildlife and agriculture must comply with SC Smoke Management Guidelines.
To make notification, regardless of county, please call (800) 777-3473.

Read the full release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Advisory-BurningBanLifted-20260330.pdf

03/27/2026

Please take note the red flag burning alert will upgrade to a state wide burning ban beginning this afternoon at 4pm.

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban, effective at 4 p.m. today

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 4 p.m. today.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

The ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes).

Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated potential for fires igniting easily and spreading rapidly. Dangerously low relative humidities – reaching below 20% in some areas – combined with extremely dry fuels statewide and gusty winds will create a particularly volatile mix of wildfire risk factors throughout the weekend.

"In addition to the intensifying drought conditions, the weather we’re going to see statewide over the next several days makes it ripe for any fire that starts to burn intensely and move fast,” SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones said. "While these conditions can make wildfires ignite easily anywhere and make it more challenging for firefighters to contain, we’re really concerned about areas where events like Hurricane Helene and recent ice damage have led to higher amounts of fuel. This burning ban is necessary to limit ignitions to the maximum extent possible to prevent severe wildfires for public safety purposes."

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable link:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260327.pdf

03/25/2026

3-24
Yesterday, Crossroads Fire responded to 2 working incidents. Tanker 13 responded and provided water supply to Seneca Fire on a structure fire. Friendship Fire, Oconee Emergency Services, and Seneca Rescue also operated on scene. Later in the day, a large woods fire involving several acres was reported off of Sitton Mill Rd. Crossroads, Friendship, Seneca, Townville, Oconee Emergency Services, and SC Forestry responded.

03/25/2026

We are in great need of rain, until we get some their is no burning of anything. The conditions are very dry and a fire doesn’t take long to spread and cause a lot of damage.

03/06/2026

Always a good practice to change your batteries.